The Osceola times., 1887-02-26

ness to veto such bill, which had
passed both Hous,s of Congress, by
more than two-tnirds majority, and
which had so powerful a sentiment
at the back ef it.
Echoes Of congratnlation have
been coming back to the President
from all parts of tbe country, and he
has heard plenty of censure from the
mere partisans who have learned to
regard the war as their personal leg
acy. But hr will have the praise, ap.
proval aud gratitude of the great
mass Of the people of all sections,
the tax. paying civilian and the hon
est veteran, of all true patriots both
of the North and South.
The reading of the Presidents
message explaining his reasons for
the veto commanded close attention
from the House Of Representatives.
Many Congressman are now unable
to say what their future action will
be until they have heard from their
conrtituents. 1t is thought, however,
that the bill could not be passed
over the veto, for many members
who voted for it have been surpris-
ed since at the condemnation it re.
ceived from people among all parties.
Should this remarkable pension
bill become law, it would give a
pension to every ex-Union soldier
who can no. earn the sort Of living
he would like-in other words, To
every man who was in the Federal
army and is yet alive. 1t woald give
. pension to every drunkard and
shiftlcss loafer who was in the army
for ninety days, even il his disabili-
ty is due solely to his own vices. 1t
would give a premium to mendican-
cy and Incidence, for nothing con-
vinces Il man that he is unable to
work like showing him that he can
live without it.
And then think Of the millions af-
ter millions of the peoples money
that such bill would waste. IL
would do,ble the pension burden OF
the United States, making it $780,
900, 900 a year. 1t would make the
roll call Of pensioners larger than
the Federal army ever was aud four
times as large rs the whole standing
army of England.
The Republican members of Con-
gress have made but little comment
upon the subject. The veto mes.
sage seems TO have taken their breath.
Rep. Stalnecker, Of N. ", thinks
the message is the ablest state paper
of Mr.. Cleveland's term. Said he,
at takes up the bill, section by Sec
ton, and just tears it to tatters. In
stating his reasons for the veto, he
has built q fort around him which
it will be pretty difficult to Storm
| A western congressman, who was
speaking Of the Presidents courage
said, "my admiration for him wa-
never great until now. He has turn
ed his face against sentiment be-
fore which all parties have bowed
and IL he is sustained by Congress
this incident may be the turning
point of a popular reaction against
the abuse Of the whole pension bust
ness"
| Another enthusiast over the Pres
ident's pluck said, at is the great
est and the best thing that Cleve
land ever did. l. required just sucl
. man as he to put firm foot dow
against a system Of legislation whicl
threatened 10 swamp this Govern.
ment." Representative Oates oI
Alabama, remarked that this veto
would make the South solid again
| Indeed there was no limit to thi,
pension business, and there appear
cd to be nobody with courage enough
to say where it should stop. Ofcourse
the President has not fixed a finaI
limit to this kind of pcrnicious legis.
: lation, but he has shown himself
equal to the situation. He has drawn
the attention of the country to the
abuse in such a way that the people
who pay the taxes will begin to
think it over.
Ifhe had signed this Pauper Pen.
sion bill, he would doubtless have
been called upsn during the year tc
sign a supplementary bill-a bill
) pensioning all men who wanted to
enlist in the Federal army, but who
were physically unable or were need.
cd at home by dependent families
Why not? If all men who enlisted
and who want more for their sup
port than their present incomes, are
entitled to pensions, why should not
all men be equally deserving Of pen
sions who wanted to enlist and
could not?
A VIpTi-ot-s WouAy